Reliability of a conductive education rating scale for assessing children with multiple disabilities

Adaptive behaviour scales represent an alternative to standardised intelligence tests for assessing children with multiple disabilities. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of an adaptive behaviour scale used in Hungarian Conductive Education programs for children with neurological impairments. Forty-five children with multiple disabilities were assessed on two separate occasions by their teachers and physiotherapists. Scores were compared across raters (interobserver agreement) and across the two assessment occasions (test-retest reliability). Interobserver agreement averaged 55.5%, and the overall test-retest reliability was 75%. Suggestions for improving interobserver agreement and test-retest reliability are discussed